Salaries › Press Machine Operator › California
Press Machine Operator Salary in California (2026)
$23.29 per hour · take-home ≈ $40,000/year ($3,333/month) for a single filer
California ranks 11th of 49 states for Press Machine Operator pay, with a median about 5% above the national average. Of the 7,710 Press Machine Operator jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $48,450 a year — though pay ranges from $37,090 for newcomers to $68,500 at the top.
Press Machine Operator pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $37,090 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $43,710 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $48,450 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $58,450 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $68,500 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 7,710 Press Machine Operator jobs in California (occupation code 51-4031, “Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Press Machine Operator salary of $48,450 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $40,000 — an effective tax rate of 17.4%.
| Gross (median) | $48,450 |
| Federal income tax | −$3,634 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$3,706 |
| California state income tax | −$1,109 |
| Take-home (annual) | $40,000 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $3,333 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Press Machine Operator make in California?
- The median Press Machine Operator salary in California is $48,450 per year ($23.29 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $43,710 and $58,450.
- What is the take-home pay for a Press Machine Operator in California?
- On the median salary of $48,450, a single filer in California takes home about $40,000 per year ($3,333 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 17.4%.
- How many Press Machine Operator jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 7,710 Press Machine Operator jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Press Machine Operators
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.